Review: Dell Wyse Cloud Connect

Dell’s new Android-based thin-client device, Cloud Connect, is proving to be a rare find: It’s one gadget that’s useful, important and really cool.

Cloud Connect comes out of Dell’s acquisition of thin-client company Wyse a couple of years ago, but this device is far superior to Chromecast. Cloud Connect turns any monitor with an HDMI port into an HD workstation, with a powerful back-end platform providing a set of Dell enterprise-managed applications and corporate data. Cloud Connect accepts touch input, the Android soft keyboard, and can connect to a mouse via USB or Bluetooth.

Users can run Windows apps remotely on the server through Citrix, Virtual PC or VMware View. Cloud Connect can also store and run local apps, and a dual-core processor and dual-band Wi-Fi keep performance up to snuff.

Cloud Connect receives power from an MHL-style HDMI port, or a standard USB port with a cable, and Dell includes a variety of HDMI adapters in the kit for various connection scenarios.